A great American exits stage right

Freedom’s flame burns a little less brightly today. Last night, America lost a man who loved liberty passionately and tirelessly used his enormous talents as an entertainer to help secure it.

His name was Tony Lo Bianco and I was proud to call him a dear friend and mentor. In the course of a long career on and off Broadway and in Hollywood, Tony shone as one of our country’s brightest stars.

His favorite role was surely that of the freedom-fighter who served as mayor of New York City for twelve turbulent years, Fiorello LaGuardia.  Tony received an Emmy for his one-man rendering of “Hizzoner” and for decades continued adapting and performing it, inspiring generations of our countrymen and women with that Foreign-born American Patriot’s indefatigable love of this country.

Thank you, Tony, for sharing yours with us so wonderfully. Godspeed, dear friend.

This is Frank Gaffney.